Four holiday spots that will change the way you look at Australia.

Australia is a large and varied country, with plenty to see and do. While many of the best spots – from Melbourne and Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru – are much-visited, there are plenty of worthy holiday destinations in Australia that aren’t so well known.

Skyscanner Australia has looked around our great nation for slightly less well known areas. Some you may have heard of, some you may have been to; all are worth visiting.

Australia’s best beaches

With more than 10,000 beaches in Australia, there’s always going to be huge debate over which strip of sand and surf claims the number one spot. Whether the picturesque nature of Wineglass Bay trumps the surfer’s paradise of Bells Beach is a never-ending debate, but those who want the best of all worlds should visit Jervis Bay. You’ll find this gorgeous spot on the South Coast of New South Wales.

This area has a number of beaches, with different attractions around Booderee National Park. What’s common among many is the powdery sand – The Sydney Morning Herald claims Hyams Beach has the whitest in the world – but there are other things to consider too: surfers love the waves, as do dolphins, and many people tick off the life dream of swimming with a dolphin for free in this area.

Australia's best wine regions

Australia produces world class wines from coast to coast, with the majority of the award-winning vineyards in the more southerly climes. The Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley and the up-and-coming wineries of Tasmania are all worth visiting but the best offerings are arguably found on the opposite side of the country.

The Margaret River region, roughly three hours south of Perth, offers a much more European wine than the other regions. The Mediterranean climate and soil type sees the produce here compared to the Bordeaux region of France. Margaret River wines are varied, a mix of whites and reds, with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon two of the favourites. With close to 200 wineries to visit, there are plenty of reasons to keep going back.

Australia's best animal experiences

There are plenty of zoos and wildlife parks in Australia but Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo tops the list. The zoo offers visitors the best way to see animals in their natural environment and you can even experience the Dubbo Zoo at night. With four accommodation options within the zoo you can enjoy waking up to the sights and sounds of the animals right on your doorstep.

Although Australia is known for our kangaroos and koalas sometimes it's the animals you don't expect to see in Australia that are the most rewarding. The quokkas on Rottnest Island are infectiously happy and the platypuses at the Jenolan Caves are a sight to behold, but the nightly penguin parade on Victoria's Phillip Island is something every Australian should see at least once in their life.

Australia's best Big Thing

Australia's landscape is, almost inexplicably, dotted with Big Things. The trend started in 1963 when Adelaide unveiled the Big Scotsman, and this has been followed by around 150 other Big Things around the country.

These monuments and sculptures to the weird and wonderful are often found on highways between towns. Just to the north of Coffs Harbour is one of the oldest and most popular: the Big Banana. The walkthrough banana has an abundance of activities in its grounds, including the educational World of Banana experience, a shop selling souvenirs and a restaurant serving the likes of frozen bananas and banana splits. Non-fruit related activities like mini golf and laser tag are also available.

Trying to condense Australia's many attractions is an impossible task, with the likes of Kakadu National Park, the underground town of Coober Pedy, the meteor site at Wolfe Creek...the list is endless!

Let us know your favourite spots in the comments below and inspire our readers see the best of this fair land.

This post originally appeared on Skyscanner Australia and was republished here with full permission.